Motorcycle wheel maintenance support

ABSTRACT

A maintenance support ( 10 ) for a motorcycle wheel ( 30 ) has a base frame ( 11 ) with a working area ( 14 ) defined between a pair of opposed side walls ( 12 ) and a pair of spaced parallel axles ( 15 ) extending transversely from one side wall ( 12 ) to the other. Each axle ( 15 ) is provided with a pair of spaced rollers ( 16 ) adapted to support a motorcycle wheel ( 30 ) thereon. Each roller ( 16 ) is mounted on its respective axle ( 15 ) for free rotation, independently of the other roller ( 16 ) of the pair, and each pair of rollers ( 16 ) co-operates to present a generally V-shaped profile to a motorcycle wheel ( 30 ) located on the maintenance support ( 10 ).

This invention relates to a support for a motorcycle wheel, to enablemaintenance, such as cleaning or repairs, to be carried out. Inparticular, it relates to such a support, which allows the motorcyclewheel to be rotated freely on the support during maintenance.

Motorcycles are typically fitted with a side stand, designed to steadythe motorcycle when not in use. The motorcycle is generally parked withboth wheels in contact with the ground, and at an angle slightlyreclined from the vertical. The side stand acts to retain the motorcyclein this reclined angle, thus preventing it from falling over, howeverthe majority of the motorcycle's weight is still borne by the wheels.This makes rotation of the wheels extremely difficult—or in the case oflarger and heavier motorcycles, essentially impossible.

Rotation of a parked motorcycle's wheels is however essential whencarrying out routine maintenance of the wheels and other associatedworking parts. For example, such routine maintenance might includeinspection, cleaning and repair of the wheels and tyres, and lubricationof the drive chain system.

Previous attempts at addressing this problem have involved jacking awheel of the motorcycle off the ground to enable it to rotate freely.However, in view of the substantial weight of some motorcycles, thismethod is potentially dangerous, as well as being labour-intensive andtime-consuming.

An alternative is to provide a support comprising two or more rollers,on which a wheel of the motorcycle is located. The other wheel remainsin contact with the ground, and the side stand is used to prevent themotorcycle falling over. The wheel located on the support can thus befreely rotated on the rollers to enable maintenance to be carried out.

Although in principle this manner of enabling free rotation of a wheelof a parked motorcycle is satisfactory, existing supports provided forthis purpose have proved inadequate. The problems encountered by usersof such known supports tend to stem from the use therein of straight,cylindrical rollers provided on fixed axles. Since the motorcycle wheelis usually inclined at an angle relative to the rollers, rotation of thewheel causes it to move along the roller, thus making the whole systemunstable and therefore unsafe. This problem is referred to herein as“wheel creep”. Additionally, such known supports tend to be manufacturedfor use only with one particular standard size and configuration ofmotorcycle wheel, and thus cannot accommodate motorcycle wheels ofdiffering size and configuration.

The present invention seeks to address the above-identified problems byproviding an improved motorcycle wheel maintenance support, on whichsubstantially all sizes and configurations of motorcycle wheel may berotated without wheel creep occurring.

According to the present invention there is provided a maintenancesupport for a motorcycle wheel, said support comprising:

a base frame having a working area defined between a pair of opposedside walls and a pair of spaced parallel axles extending transverselyfrom one side wall to the other, each said axle being provided with apair of spaced rollers adapted to support a motorcycle wheel thereon;

and wherein each member of each said pair of spaced rollers is freelyrotatable about its respective axle independently of the other member ofsaid pair, and each pair of rollers co-operates to present a generallyV-shaped profile to a motorcycle wheel to be located on said maintenancesupport.

The term “generally V-shaped” is used herein in its broadest sense, andthus describes the subtending between the paired rollers of any angleless than 180°. In practice, the angle subtended between the pairedrollers will preferably be in the range of from 115° to 155°, and mostpreferably will be substantially 135°.

The presentation of a generally V-shaped profile to the motorcycle wheelis essential to the prevention of wheel creep, and may be achieved inone of two ways, giving rise to alternate embodiments of the presentinvention.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, each axle is generallyclindrical and each roller is generally conical or frusto-conical. Thegenerally V-shaped profile is thus obtained by the opposed surfaces ofthe conical rollers, which will be mounted on the axle with theirsmaller ends oriented towards the centre of the support. In thisembodiment, each axle may be freely rotatable relative to the baseframe.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, each axle comprises acentral generally V-shaped portion, whilst each roller is generallycylindrical. The generally V-shaped profile is thus obtained by theopposed surfaces of the cylindrical rollers, which will be mounted oneither side of the generally V-shaped central portion of the axle.Clearly, in this embodiment each axle must be held stationary relativeto the base frame. For this purpose, the base frame may further comprisea central rib adapted to support said central V-shaped portion of eachaxle.

Whether the maintenance support of the present invention is provided inits first or second embodiments, it is essential that each paired rolleris freely rotatable independently of the other member of the pair. As amotorcycle wheel located on the support will often be inclined, therotation of the wheel will cause different rotational forces to beapplied at different points of contact—i.e. different forces will beapplied to each paired roller. Since the rollers are free to rotateindependently, this will cause the rollers forming either side of the“V” to rotate at different speeds. This is important so as to prevent,or at least significantly reduce, the “build-up” of friction between themotorcycle wheel and the rollers.

In order to facilitate the independent rotation of the paired rollers, abearing is preferably located centrally on each axle, said bearing alsomaintaining the separation between each pair of spaced rollers.

The base frame may further comprises a pair of opposed end walls, eachof which will preferably be inclined to form a ramp suitable forpermitting a motorcycle wheel to enter and exit the working area. Mostpreferably, each said ramp is formed with a generally V-shaped cut-outportion adjacent its upper edge, said cut-out portion being aligned withthe generally V-shaped profile of the rollers. A motorcycle can thuseasily be ridden or rolled onto and off the support.

The mounting of each axle on the side walls may conveniently be achievedby the ends of said axles extending through mounting holes or slotsprovided in the side walls. A bearing is preferably provided at each endof each axle, to enable the rotational mounting of said axles in saidmounting holes or slots. Most preferably, each said bearing is providedwith a flange, to assist in retaining the rollers centrally on theirrespective axle.

In order that the maintenance support of the present invention shouldfulfil its stated object of accommodating substantially all sizes ofmotorcycle wheel, it is desirable that the size of the working areashould be adjustable. This may be achieved by providing the side wallswith a series of mounting holes or slots spaced along the lengththereof, with the axles being adapted for removable mounting in saidholes or slots. The removable mounting may preferably be achieved by theuse of a clip associated with each end of each axle.

Where the side walls are provided with slots rather than holes, themaintenance support may further comprise retainer plates to retain theaxles in said slots.

The base frame may be open along its underside, or alternatively mayfurther comprise a generally rectangular base member extending beneathsaid working area. Such a base member may be required where it isdesired to protect the floor or ground beneath the working area fromoils and lubricants etc.

To prevent the base frame slipping on the floor or ground duringrotation of the motorcycle wheel, the base frame preferably furthercomprises a plurality of feet provided on the underside thereof. Mostpreferably, the underside of the base frame and/or the feet is/areformed from, or provided with, an anti-slip material, such as rubber.

In order that the present invention may be fully understood, preferredembodiments thereof will now be described in detail, though only by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of motorcyclewheel maintenance support according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows alternate constructions of roller and axle assemblies foruse in different embodiments of maintenance support according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional end view of the maintenance support ofFIG. 1, having a motorcycle wheel located thereon;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the maintenance support andmotorcycle wheel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of maintenancesupport according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a plane view of the maintenance support of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional end view of the maintenance support ofFIGS. 5 and 6, having a motorcycle wheel located thereon; and

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of the maintenance support andmotorcycle wheel of FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment ofmotorcycle wheel maintenance support, generally indicated 10, accordingto the present invention. The support 10 comprises a base frame 11,having a pair of opposed side walls 12, and a pair of opposed end walls13, inclined to form ramps so as to permit access to and egress from aworking area 14, defined within the walls 12, 13.

A pair of straight parallel axles 15 extend across the working area 14from one side wall 12 to the other. Each axle 15 carries a pair ofconical rollers 16, each roller 16 being mounted for free rotationalmovement about its respective axle 15, independently of the other memberof the pair. The conical rollers 16 are mounted on the axles 15 in anopposed arrangement so as to form a generally V-shaped cross-sectionalprofile, as is best seen from FIG. 2.

As is also shown in FIG. 2, the V-shaped cross-sectional profile of theroller-and-axle assembly may alternatively be achieved by the provisionof a pair of straight rollers 17 mounted on an axle 18 having a centralV-shaped portion 19 formed therein. A second embodiment of motorcyclewheel maintenance support incorporating such a straight roller 17 andV-shaped axle 18 assembly, will be discussed in more detail below withreference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

Referring now simultaneously to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, it can be seen thatthe conical rollers 16 are spaced apart on their axles 15 by means of acentral bearing 21 mounted thereon, which facilitates the independentrotation of said rollers 16. Similar terminal bearings 22 are providedat the ends of the axles 15, where they are mounted on the side walls12, to enable the axles 15 to rotate freely relative to the base frame11. The terminal bearings 22 are provided with flanges 23 to retain theconical rollers 16 in the correct position on their axles 15.

The axles 15 are removably mounted on the side walls 12 by locating theterminal bearings 22 in one of a series of mounting holes 24 provided inthe side walls 12. The axle 15 is then retained in the selected mountinghole 24 by means of a clip 25. By moving the axles 15 between thedifferent holes 24 the distance between the axles 15- and thus the sizeof the working area 14—may be varied to enable the maintenance supportto be utilised with varying sizes of motorcycle wheel 30.

To facilitate access and egress of a wheel 30 to and from the workingarea 14, the ramps 13 are each formed with a V-shaped cut-out section 26adjacent their upper edges. The side walls 12 may also be provided withcut-out sections 27 to facilitate maintenance of a wheel 30 when locatedon the support 10. To prevent the support 10 slipping during use, thebase frame 11 is provided with rubber feet 28.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, during use a motorcycle wheel 30 located onthe support 10 will be inclined at an angle relative to the support 10.Rotation of the wheel 30 will therefore cause different rotationalforces to be applied to either side of the support 10. As the rollers 16are free to rotate independently of one another, this causes the rollers16 to rotate at different speeds, thus preventing, or at leastsignificantly reducing, the build-up of friction between the wheel 30and the rollers 16. The V-shaped profile presented by the rollers 16ensures that the wheel 30 is retained centrally on the axle 15, and isprevented from “creeping” along the axle 15. The stability, and hencethe safety, of the system is thus enhanced.

Referring now simultaneously to FIGS. 5 to 8, there is shown a secondembodiment of motorcycle wheel maintenance support, generally indicated40, according to the present invention. The second embodiment 40 is inmany respects similar to the first embodiment 10 described above withreference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and where applicable like referencenumerals will be used to refer to like features.

The second embodiment 40 differs from the first embodiment in that theV-shaped cross-sectional profile of the roller-and-axle assembly isachieved by means of straight rollers 17 mounted on axles 18 havingcentral V-shaped portions 19 formed therein, as described above withreference to FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the axles 18 must remainstationary relative to the base frame 11, and therefore the terminalbearings of the first embodiment are not required. To retain the axles18 in a stationary position, the central V-shaped portions 19 thereof issecured to a central rib 41 formed integrally with the base frame 11.(Although not shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a similar central rib 41 may beincorporated into the first embodiment 10, adapted to support thecentral bearing 21).

The second embodiment 40 also differs from the first embodiment 10 inthat the side walls 12, and the central rib 41, are provided with aseries of mounting slots 42, rather than holes 24. In order the securethe axles 18 in the selected mounting slot 42, retainer plates 43 areprovided, in place of the retaining clips 25.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A motorcycle wheel maintenance support, saidsupport comprising: a base frame having a pair of opposed side walls; aworking area defined within said base frame, between said side walls; apair of spaced parallel axles extending transversely across said workingarea from one said side wall to the other said side wall, each said axlebeing provided with a pair of spaced rollers adapted to support amotorcycle wheel thereon; and wherein each member of each said pair ofspaced rollers is freely rotatable about its respective axleindependently of the other member of said pair, and wherein each pair ofrollers co-operates to present a generally V-shaped profile to amotorcycle wheel to be located on said maintenance support.
 21. Themotorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 20, wherein each axle isgenerally cylindrical and each roller is generally conical orfrusto-conical.
 22. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim21, wherein each axle is freely rotatable relative to the base frame.23. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 20, wherein eachaxle is held stationary relative to the base frame and comprises acentral generally V-shaped portion, and each roller is generallycylindrical.
 24. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 23,wherein the base frame further comprises a central rib adapted tosupport said central V-shaped portion of each axle.
 25. The motorcyclewheel maintenance support of claim 20, wherein a bearing is locatedcentrally on each axle, said bearing maintaining the separation betweeneach pair of spaced rollers.
 26. The motorcycle wheel maintenancesupport of claim 20, wherein the base frame further comprises a pair ofopposed end walls.
 27. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim26, wherein each said end wall is inclined to form a ramp suitable forpermitting a motorcycle wheel to enter and exit the working area. 28.The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 27, wherein each saidramp is formed with a generally V-shaped cut-out portion adjacent itsupper edge, said cut-out portion being aligned with the generallyV-shaped profile of the rollers.
 29. The motorcycle wheel maintenancesupport of claim 20, wherein each end of each axle extends through amounting hole provided in the side walls.
 30. The motorcycle wheelmaintenance support of claim 29, wherein each end of each axle isprovided with a bearing adapted to be mounted in a mounting hole. 31.The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 30, wherein each saidbearing is provided with a flange, to retain the rollers centrally ontheir respective axles.
 32. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support ofclaim 29, wherein the side walls are provided with a series of mountingholes spaced along the length thereof, and the axles are adapted to beremovably mounted in said holes, thus enabling the size of the workingarea to be varied.
 33. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim32, wherein each end of each axle is provided with a clip to enableremovable mounting of said axle in its respective mounting hole.
 34. Themotorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 29, wherein the mountingholes take the form of slots, and further comprising retainer plates toretain the axles in said slots.
 35. The motorcycle wheel maintenancesupport of claim 20, wherein the base frame further comprises agenerally rectangular base member extending beneath said working area.36. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 20, furthercomprising a plurality of feet provided on the underside of the baseframe.
 37. The motorcycle wheel maintenance support of claim 20, whereinthe underside of the base frame is provided with an anti-slip material.